Goshinjutsu History Part 2
Goshinjutsu History Continued Part 2
There is evidence, however, that empty hand techniques were in use during the Heian period (794 – 1185) in conjunction with weapons training. In 880 AD it is believed Prince Teijun (also known as Sadagami) formed the basics of what was to become the Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu school. The school was based on the secret teachings of shugendo, where ’shu’ means search, ‘ken’ means power, and ‘do’ means way. This used circular hand motions to assist in defending with weapons. Other records show that Aikijujutsu was originally developed by Minamoto no Yoshimitsu and his brother Yoshiie from their own clan fighting techniques in the same historical period.
These skills involved the spear, swordsmanship, archery, and Taijutsu – later called Jujutsu.
The eldest son of Yoshimitsu moved to a new area and took a new family name, Takeda. Wars took their toll, and by the end of the Sengoku era the Takeda Kai clan had been virtually wiped out. In the state of Aizu, where Takeda Kuniisu had become the master of swordsmanship with a fief and mansion, Daito (Takeda) Ryu Aikijujutsu continued to flourish along with many other schools of martial arts. Styles of Jujutsu included Mizu no Shinto Ryu and Shinmyo Ryu.. It was at this stage in the development of unarmed combat that certain Chinese “chu’an fa” (or kempo) techniques were incorporated into some schools. In practise these techniques tended to originate from the styles prevalent in southern China.
In 1559 the monk Ch’en Yuan Pin, or Chin Gen Pin in Japanese, migrated from China to Japan, bringing Kempo with him, parts of which were integrated into the existing teachings of some schools of Jujutsu. In Tokyo there is a stone monument honouring the monk as a Chinese boxer and his contribution to Jujutsu. Credit for founding a more formal art of jujutsu appears to go to Hisamori Takenouchi who formed his Takenouchi Ryu (school) of Jujutsu in Japan in 1532.
Yoroi kumi-uchi became kacchu kumiuchi, unarmed grappling in armour and kumi-uchi, un-armoured forms of grappling. From the kumi-uchi systems forms of combat, still generally known as Jujutsu, gradually developed. These newer Jujutsu styles more accurately reflected the ethos and martial requirements of the Edo-period decline in the status of Bu-jutsu, the classical forms of combat. During the Tokugawa era, Jujutsu continued to flourish as a part of Samurai training. The name “Ju-jutsu” described a number of systems of fighting unarmed or lightly armed which had begun in the relative peace of the Tokugawa (Edo) period.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the Tenjin Shinyo Ryu, founded by Yanagi Sekizai Minamoto no Masatari, placed great importance on atemi-waza (striking techniques). Masatari was born in Seishin and from an early age studied many empty-hand styles including Shin no Shinto Ryu and Yoshin Ryu. The Tenjin Shinyo Ryu system contained 124 techniques as well as kappo (resuscitation skills), but there was little sign of the extensive weapon skills of earlier jujutsu ryu. Masatari eventually went to Tokyo where he established his school and changed it’s name to Iso Mataemon. Amongst the pupils of this style were the founders of both Judo and Aikido.
Another style from the nineteenth century was Yoshin Ryu, which was founded by Akiyama Shirobei Yoshitoki, who had travelled for some time in China and while there, had learned various techniques in both medicine and fighting.
On his return he set about formulating a comprehensive system and went to Temmangu temple to train and meditate. Noticing the way a willow tree yielded to the weight of snow and dropped it to the floor, Yoshitoki realised that the yielding and flexible principle was the way, and that strength and resistance meant crushing defeat.
Yoshitoki called his style Yoshin Ryu (willow spirit style) and formed the precepts of ju (suppleness and yielding).
Techniques continued to evolve and by the middle of the 19th century, defined methods of striking had been re-incorporated. These atemi were blows aimed at specific points (kyusho) which now being unprotected by armour, were particularly vulnerable to attack.
The major emphasis was (is) upon speed and accuracy of the blow to stun and distract. The nature of the points attacked, such as the testicles or eyes, ensured the blows effectiveness.
Atemi-waza were considered useful as part of a method of fighting which also included grappling, throwing, and joint manipulation. Often a strike would be made as an introductory gambit or a distracting ploy to the main attack; or it would form part of the follow through from a throw or joint hold.
It would, for example, constitute an effective first move in a sequence of techniques used to escape from a hold or an attempted throw. Seldom were atemi techniques considered to be sufficient in their own right, although in many instances they would suffice if focused correctly on the target points.
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